Bevan, who won the world junior surfing title before spending 15 years on the World Championship Tour, said Wilson was in prime form for this week's event.

He believes Wilson now exuded the talent of competitors such as 11-time world champion Kelly Slater.

"When you watch those elite guys like Kelly (Slater) and Mick (Fanning) and Jordy Smith, they have a certain finesse in the way they link their turns and perform their manoeuvres," Bevan said.

"Those guys stand out from the rest of the pack because they are special.

"Wilson is in that category now."

Bevan, a lifeguard at Alexandra Headland surf club, said Wilson's climb to the top end of the championship tour was a testament to his ethic of hard work, and the fact that Wilson grew up surfing the inconsistent surf of Coolum made his rise all the more special.

"Coming from a place where there's not many big waves and learning how to surf big waves shows how much he has matured," he said.

"He's captured what it takes and can now handle the big stuff very well."

As well as Wilson's obvious improvement from three years on the tour, Bevan attributed Wilson's development to a strict training regime.

Time spent at the High Performance Surfing Centre on the Gold Coast was paying dividends.

"I know he's started training really hard and has a personal trainer and is really dedicated," Bevan said.

"It proves that if you are willing to put in the hard yards that it works."

Wilson sits in sixth place on the world standings after finishing ninth in 2011 and 2012.

A win in Portugal, where he recorded his maiden tour victory last year, could propel Wilson as high as third, depending on other results.

Bevan said although it was unlikely Wilson would claim the world title this year, a world championship was not too far away.

"He's a contender," he said.

"He's only 24 and surfers generally peak at around 30.

"He has all the tricks and is very unpredictable."

The Rip Curl Pro may resume today after lay days for the past three days.